IDM Mailing Archive

Does anyone know anything about test pressings of vinyl? Is there always 12 or so test pressings made of anything ever cut on vinyl? or is it optional on the part of the artist whether any test pressings are made? (time to embark on the hunt for those Joyrex test pressings i feel :) -- Ben Coffer Hybrid Productions http://www.hybridgame.demon.co.uk/

quoted 3 lines plus if you get a test made and you don't like it, you need to remaster and

> plus if you get a test made and you don't like it, you need to remaster and > get another test, which means you could get stuck with a load of records > that you're not happy with.

I always assumed that the point of test pressing would be to test to see if you were happy with the outcome before you actually went ahead and made a full run... thus preventing you from getting stuck with loads of records you weren't happy with... Is this incorrect? Perhaps, nowadays, with larger artists, its a 'collectible' thing, going under the assumption that the final is acceptable and the test pressing is more of a prerelease item or something... I was thinking about having a limited run of 12"s made up, but I'm scared shitless that they will sound nothing like I want them to and I'll be stuck with a bunch of records that sound WORSE than they should =) Guess thats where I got my test pressing notions from... __________________________________________ brap@sonic.net *** sfwd@sonic.net http://www.sonic.net/~brap/ stress and bad phonelines... the story of my life

Ben Coffer wrote:

quoted 5 lines Does anyone know anything about test pressings of vinyl? Is there

> Does anyone know anything about test pressings of vinyl? Is there > always 12 or so test pressings made of anything ever cut on vinyl? > or is it optional on the part of the artist whether any test pressings > are made? (time to embark on the hunt for those Joyrex test pressings > i feel :)

The other options are dub plates or acetates. Not too sure what the difference is between the two...they might be the same damn thing AFAIK, but I doubt it. I really don't have that much info on them but I'll tell you what little I know. Acetates are one off and can be 10" or 12". I was told you can fit aprox. 12 minutes a side at 33 on a 12". Sound quality is quite good and the recording level can be pretty loud. Acetates are heavy as hell, smooth as glass, very stiff and feel like they would shatter if dropped. Last week I went and cut a few with some friends in from london and they seemed pretty happy with the results. They were suprised that you could cut a 12" because they said most all dub plates were only 10". As for the duribility, I'm not sure yet. I was told 7 or 8 playings, but some other dj's I know have been playing their 'plates for months. We'll see... Oh, last but not least, the price. I've seen places that cost anywhere from $75 to $135 per 12", but know of a super secret cutter, blocks from my flat that does 10" for $35 and 12" for $40. But I can't tell... peace out, brock.